Civil Engineering, General Colleges

About the Civil Engineering Major

Walk outside and take
a good look around. You will see the work of civil engineers everywhere - from
buildings to bridges to roads and reservoirs. Civil engineering majors learn
how to use math and science to design large construction projects that make modern life possible.You will
learn how to build skyscrapers, hang suspension bridges that support tons of
cars and trucks each day, and create water systems that supply millions of city
dwellers.

Civil engineers
design and oversee the construction and maintenance of buildings and
infrastructure, such as highways, tunnels, rail systems, airports, and water
supply and sewage systems. Civil engineers spend a good amount of time in the
planning stages studying survey reports and maps, breaking down construction
cost, and considering government regulations and potential environmental
hazards.

Depending on the college or university, you will
have the opportunity to concentrate on one specific area of civil engineering.The civil engineering
major is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines, including
environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, geophysics, geodesy,
control engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, earth
science, atmospheric sciences, forensic engineering, municipal or urban
engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, offshore
engineering, quantity surveying, coastal engineering, surveying, and
construction engineering.

Civil engineering degrees are offered at the undergraduate and graduate level. Entry-level civil engineering jobs require a bachelor's degree and all 50 states and the District of Columbia mandate licensure for engineers who offer their services directly to the public. Technical projects and management responsibility often require a master's degree, while teaching requires a Ph.D.